Apparatus for spraying the interior of cylindrical articles



May 23, 1950 D. R. GOETCHIUS 2,508,709

APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING THE INTERIOR 0F CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Filed May 17, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jjig.

- ,INVENTOR. DONALD R.GOETCH|US ATTORNEYS May 23, 1950 D. R. GOETCHIUS 2,508,709

APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING THE INTERIOR 0F CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Filed May 17, 1946 s Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR.

DONALD RGOETCHIUS ATTORNEYS y 1950 D. R. GOETCHIUS 2,508,709

APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING THE INTERIOR 0F CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Filed May 17, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. DONALD RGOETCHIUS Gab-film ATTORNEYS Patented May 23, 1950 APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING THE INTERIOR OF CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES Donald R. Goetchius, Avon, Ohio, assignor to Ferro Enamel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application May 17, 1946, Serial No. 67 0,438

7 Claims.

This inventionrelates as indicated to an apparatus for spraying the interior surface of a ho1 low article of manufacture such as for example the. cylindrical casing of a domestic hot water tank. I

It is one principal object of this invention to provide an apparatus capable of uniformly sprayingthe interior of such articles.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for breaking up a liquid spray material into a fine mist or fog and thrusting the same in a generally radially outward direction by centrifugal force against the interior wall of the article being sprayed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control mechanism for coordinating the movement of a conveyor which carries the article to be sprayed with the reciprocating movements of a spray head so that they will move successively and never simultaneously.

Another object is to provide an improved control mechanism which makes possible continuous uninterrupted operation of the apparatus as a whole; that is the spraying apparatus and the article carrying conveyor.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spraying apparatus in which the acceleration and deceleration of the spray head at the limits of its reciprocating movements are not efiective to deposit a heavier coating at the ends of the article being sprayed than in an intermediate portion thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel means for raising and lowering the spray head at uniform rates of speed.

, Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention then comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the apparatus as a whole;'

the frame by means of brackets [0.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the apparatus clearly showing the motor and means for reciprocating the spray head; 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the lower end of the spray head;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view looking down into thespray cup from the upper open end thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram for accomplishing the desired automatic control of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawing and first to the mechanical structure shown in Figs. 1-4 there is shown therein a-frame structure comprising a base plate I to which is secured two parallel and vertical H columns 2. The upper ends of the H columns are tied together by a cross beam 3 secured to each column. Suitable side channels 4 and rear channels 5 welded to the base plate and to the upper ends of the columns and suitable tie members 6 welded to the columns and to the side and rear channels serve to provide a rigid integral frame structure.

Between the columns 2 and extending upwardly from the base plate I is a spray booth which comprises-side panels I spaced from opposed faces of the columns 2 and a top panel 8 provided with a vent nipple 9 to which a pipe can be connected for" drawing away any fumes which might resuit from the spraying. The booth is secured to It is to be noted that the brackets ID are disposed toward the lower end of the frame and that the spray booth is spaced from the opposed faces of the columns 2 in order that the spray booth will not in any way interfere with the free movement of the hereinafter to be described spray head.

The spray head as a whole comprises a pair of vertical jibs ll rigidly secured to a horizontally disposed cross arm 12, the latter having secured thereto a hollow downwardly extending sleeve l3.

The lower end of sleeve I3 carries the spraying the outer face of each jib l I which straddles the flange of the adjacent column 2.

The mechanism for reciprocating the spray head comprises a reversible variable speed electrio motor M which is supported on a shelf I5 on the frame and which, through a sprocket wheel and chain It, drives a reel I! in one direction or the other to wind or unwind a cable 13 thereto or therefrom. The cable has one end thereof secured to the cross beam 3 and. passes over a pulley l9 rotatably mounted on cross arm I2 and over other suitable pulleys 29 on the cross beam 3 and the other end. thereof is secured to the reel li. Thus, it can be seen that rotation of reel ll in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 will hoist the spray head upward, whereas rotation thereof in a counterclockwise direction will permit the spray head to drop downward by gravity but at a rate determined by the speed of rotation of reel H. The essential elements for controlling the motor l4 are mounted on a suitable panel'Z'I' on the right-hand front side of the frame.

The spraying device comprises a spray cup 22 at the lower end of sleeve l3, said cup being rotated by means of an air motor 23 of any conventional type adapted to translate force exerted by air fiOWillg under pressure supplied through conduit 24 into rotation of the drive shaft 25 to which the cup is securely fastened. Conduit 24 is preferably disposed within the.

sleeve I3 and at the upper end such conduit is flexible and communicates with a suitable source of air under pressure. The flexible portion of the conduit permits free upward and downward movement of the spray head. Spray cup 22 is generally spherical at its bottom portion. and the side wall thereof is flared outwardly and.

upwardly as viewed in Fig. 3. The upper por-.

tion thereof is provided with a plurality .of slits 26 which are preferably V-shaped. One simple,

manner of making such V-slots is to first use an ordinary saw blade to make the slits and then flare the upper portion, thereby causing the slits to spread apart at the upper ends thereof. The

spray cup is intended to be continuously rotated.

Therefore, no control means are necessary other than the usual shut-ofi means for discontinuing rotation when the apparatus is not in use.

Within cup 22 and converging toward. the bottom thereof are two discharge nozzles 2'1 through which liquid spray material is forced toward the bottom of the cup. It can be seen,

that rotation of cup 22 effects radialoutward and upward movement of the spray material through the slits to break up such material into a fine mist or fog and to throw the same by centrifugal force against the interior of thearticle being sprayed.

Spray material is furnished to the discharge nozzles 21 through a conduit 28 preferably fastened on the outside of sleeve 13 and along the l 5 cross arm 12. The outer end of conduit 28 is flexible and is connected to a source of spray material under pressure. Interposedin conduit 28 is a normally closed valve 29 which can be opened to permit flow of spray material to the Briefly, the reciprocating cycle of the spray head is commenced by manually operating a push button 32 which in turn energizes a magnetic switch 33 to establish a circuit to motor l4 to effect rotation thereof in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. This permits controlled downward gravity movement of the spray head until tripper arm 34 on jib II trips switch 35, whereupon the magnetic switch 33 is energized to reverse the direction of rotation of motor 14. This reversed rotation lifts the spray head upward at the predetermined rate of speed and such upward movement continues until tripper arms 34 trips switch 36, whereupon the magnetic switch 33 is deenergized to open the motor circuit and thereby stop the motor. Switches 35 and 36 are mounted on separate plates 31 which plates are adjustably mounted along one of the columns 2 and are locked in adjusted position by means of screws 38. During the aforesaid reciprocation of the spray head valve 29 was in open position permitting spray materialto be supplied to the spray cup 22.

As will be presently explained, the tripping of switch 36 in addition to opening the motor circuit is operative to commencemovement. of a conveyor 39 and. then tripping of a switch 40 by the conveyor is operative to stop .theconveyor and to initiate downward movement of the spray... head. Switches 35, 36 and 40 are preferably of the type which are normally in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 5 and which, when tripped, will only momentarily make or bridge the other pair .of contacts therein. Switch 4| is a main,

line switch andswitches 42 and 43 are safety switches to cut off the power line in the event, that switches 35 or 36 should become inoperative to respectively reverse or stop the motor [4.

As shown in Fig. 1, the spray booth is open in the front and rear and a conveyor 39 passes therethrough. Said conveyor is of the usual construction and preferably includes an endless belt 44 which is driven by means [of an electric motor 45 controlled in part by means of a push button switch 46 and a magnetic switch 41L Motor 45 and switches. 46 and 41 are not shown in Figs. 1-4 but are shown schematically in Fig.

5. The conveyor belt 44 is providedwith sev eral sets of locating blocks 43 thereon for positioning the tank T thereon with its open bot tom edge spaced from the belt 44 for reasons which will become apparent as the description proceeds. Mounted on one of the columns 2 is a switch 40 which is adapted to be tripped by H Arm 49is dis-- means of an arm 49 on belt "44 v posed relative to blocks 48 so that when switch 40 is tripped to shut off the conveyor motor, thej tank T will be directly below the spray cup 22 and coaxial therewith. In this way if the tank what above the top edge of the tank T to be t sprayed and the lower limit thereof is somewhat below the bottom edge of the tank T to be t sprayed. Likewise, cam bar 3! should be ad-.

justed to a position such that valve 29 will be opened prior to the spray cup moving down to a position in line with the top edge of the tank. By adjusting the switches and cam baras aforesaid, uniform spraying is assured because spray; ing of the tank is effected only while the spray cup is reciprocating at a uniform rate of speed. That is ;to say that the tank is in spraying position radially opposite the spray cup only during the uniform reciprocation thereof and not during the acceleration and deceleration thereof as occurs at the upper and lower limits of its movement.

Having thus described the specific structure of the apparatus and its general operation, refer ence will now be made to the wiring diagram of Fig. 5 in describing the operation of the apparatus in detail.

With the switches in the normal positions shown and with the spray head at its upper position and a tank T in spraying position, the main line switches 4| and 56 can be closed. In the present embodiment of the invention I prefer to use current from a three-phase 220 or 440 volt line, although it is contemplated that an ordinary 110 volt A. C. or D. C. line could be satisfactorily used. In order to initiate downward movement of the spray head, button 32 of the manual push button switch5i, is pressed in whereby contacts 52 therein are bridged. This permits current to flow from line 53 through switch 43, switch 42, contacts 54, 55 and 52 in switch 5i, contacts 56 of switch 35 and down relay coil 51 to line 56. Switch 59 is merely a heater switch which will open if excess current is flowing in line 56. The flow of current through relay coil 51 immediately shifts the down relay switch 66 toward the left to bridge the four sets of contacts therein, one set of which, namely contacts 6 l are holding contacts. This effects rotation of motor M in a counterclockwise direction as ,viewed in Fig. 1. The bridging of holding contacts 6! permits continued flow of current through relay coil 57 even though button 32 is only momentarily depressed. As soon as the spray head starts to move downwardthe valve 23 is opened by cam bar 3| to furnish spray material into the continuously rotating spray cup 22 to spray the tank T.

After the spray cup passes below the bottom edge of the tank the tripper arm 34 on jib H will trip switch 35 to break contacts 5'6 and to bridge contacts 62 therein. The effect of breaking contacts 56 is to open the down relay coil circuit whereupon the down relay switch will immediately shift toward the right to open the motor circuit and the holding circuit. On the other hand, the bridging of contacts 62 of switch 35 closes a circuit through the up relay coil 63; that is current will then flow from line 53 through switch 43, switch 42, contacts 54 and 64 in switch 5!, contacts 62 in switch 35, contacts 65 in switch 36, and up relay coil 63 to line 58. In so energizing the up relay coil 63, the up relay switch 66 is immediately caused to shift to the left to bridge the four sets of contacts therein, of which set, contacts 6'! are the holding contacts and thus cause motor M to rotate in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1. Inasmuch as the holding contacts M of the down relay switch 60 and the holding contacts 6'! of the up relay switch 66 are broken and bridged respectively, it is immaterial that switch 35 only momentarily bridges contacts 62 and momentarily breaks contacts 56. The actuation of relay switch 66 will cause the spray head to move upwardly and again spray the tank T. It is to be noted that motor I4 is provided with a solenoid brake 68 to minimize coasting thereof during reversal or stopping thereof.

When the spray head reaches its upper limit tripper arm 34 will trip switch 36 to momentarily break contacts 65 thereof and to momentarily make contacts 69 thereof. The effect of breaking contacts 65 is to open the up relay circuit, whereupon the up relay switch 66 will drop out thereby breaking the motor circuit and breaking the holding contacts Bl thereof. The momentary bridging of contacts 69 of switch 36 permits current to flow from line 16 through contacts 69 of switch 36 and conveyor relay coil H to line 12, whereupon the relay switch 13 shifts to the left to close the circuit to the conveyor motor 45 and to bridge the holding contacts 14, the latter being effective to permit continued energization of relay coil ll through line 10, contacts 75 of switch 46, contacts I6 of switch 46, and relay coil ll to line 12. Thus, the conveyor will move until tripper arm 49 thereon trips switch 40 to momentarily break contacts [5 and to momentarily bridge contacts 11 thereof. The momentary breaking of contacts 15 deenerglzes coil H to permit shifting of relay switch '13 to the right to open the conveyor motor circuit and to break the holding contacts 14. In this way the remaking of contacts 15 will not be effective to restart the conveyor motor 45.

The momentary bridging of contacts 11 of switch 40 through lines '18 and 19 makes contacts 52 of manual switch 5| and thus has the same effect as the original manual depressing of the down button 32. This automatically starts downward movement of the spray head to repeat the cycle just described and such automatic operation will continue until the line switches 4| and 56 are opened or until the manually operated stop button 86 in switch 5| is depressed to break contacts 54. The manual conveyor switch 46 is also provided with a stop button 8i to permit stopping of the conveyor at will.

In addition to the down and stop buttons in switch 5!, there is also a manual up button 82 therein for moving the spray head upwardly at will, the effect of depressing the same being to bridge contacts 83 to energize the up relay coil 63. Switch 46 has a manual start button 84 to run the conveyor motor even though switch 36 or switch 4|] or both are inoperative. The safety switches 42 and 43 when tripped are effective to open the relay coil circuit and thus shut off motor i l in the event that either switch 35 or 36 is inoperative.

It is to be understood that while one tank T is being sprayed, another can be loaded on the conveyor. Thus, all that one operator need do is to load tanks on the conveyor. In one preferred arrangement, two machines are placed adjacent one another to simultaneously spray the interior surfaces of two tanks and then the two tanks are moved by the conveyor into another dual machine for spraying the external surfaces thereof and then the tanks so sprayed internally and externally are carried through a drying and baking oven. It can thus be seen that the handling of the tanks is minimized and that the entire proces is speeded up and rendered completely automatic for uniformity in results. As indicated above, motor I4 is of the variable speed type whereby the rate of reciprocation can be varied to deposit any thickness of coating desired on to the article being sprayed.

While I have described my invention in conjunction with the spraying of the entire interior of hot water tanks, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to such use but may be used for spraying other than hollow cylindrical articles or for spraying but a portion of the length 01 aaoeg' cylindrical" articles or articlesof shape other'tha'n cylindrical.

other modes Of applyin the principle of the inventionmaybe p y 'ychange being made i as regards the details'described, provided the feai tures stated in any of the following claims or the" equivalent of such be employed."

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In a-spraying apparatusjthe combination of a supporting frame,- a spray'head mounted for verticalreciprocationon said-frame, a hoisting device controlling botirdownwardgravity move ment of aid head and upward hoisting movement of said head at equal rates of speed, said hoisting "l5 device comprising a reversible-power rotated reel and a cable connected to said-head and to said reel, actuatable control means-for said reel "on said frame operative when actuated to reverse the direction of rotation of said recl and control actuating meanscarried by said spray head;

2. In a spraying apparatusof the type com prising a spray headreciprocable within ahollow article to be sprayed, the'combination of a movable article carrying conveyor and a reciprocable spray head, anelectric motor connected to saidconveyor for moving the same,-a reversible elec-' tric motorconnected to said head for reciprocat ing the same, and means-for controlling said motors comprising a first switch for interrupting the former at predetermined intervalsand simultaneously-actuating the latter, and 'a second switch for interrupting the latter and simultaneously actuating the former.

3. In a spraying apparatus or" thetypecomprising a spray head reciprocable within a hollow article to be sprayed; the combination of a movable article carrying conveyor and'areciprocable' spray head, an electric motor connected to said' conveyor for moving the same,a reversible electricmotor connected to said head for reciprocat ing the same, and means 'for controlling said motors comprising'a first switch for interrupt ing the former at predetermined intervals and simultaneouslyactuating the latter, a second switchfor interrupting the latter and simultaneously actuating the former, and a third switch for reversingthelatterl 4. In a spraying apparatus, the combination of a supporting frame, and a spray head reciprocabiy carried by said frame, saidspray head 'comprising a vertically disposed hollowsleeve having its one" end connected to ahorizontal cross arm siide'guided'in said frame-and its other end opening downwardly, a rotary air'motor in such lowerend operated by air' under "pressure supplied through a conduit within said sleeve, a spray cup rotated by' said-moton'a' non-rotatable dis charge nozzle within said clip supplying material to be sprayed ther einto through a conduit dis-' posed alongsaid sleeve, and a cam operated valve in said 'latterco'nduit disposed at one end of said cross arm and engagea'bleby a cam bar "disposed vertically along" said'frame to open said" valve during reciprocationof said head.

5. In a spraying apparatus'of the type comprising a spray head reciprocable within 'a hollow article to be sprayed, the combination of a movable conveyor supporting sucharticle'ther'eon, a reciprocable spray' head, electrically operated means'ior movingf-said conveyor, electrically o aata'means-ro reciprocating said head, and means" for" controlling said conveyor moving means and saidhead'reciprocating means comprising a firstswitch' simultaneously interrupting operation ofsaid" conveyor'moving' means at predetermined intervals and initiating operation of said head reciprocating means, and a second switch simultaneously interrupting operation oi said v headreciprodating means and initiating operation'of said "conveyor moving means.

6. Ina spraying apparatus, the combination of a movable conveyor for carrying a hollow article ously' initiate-operation of "said spray head '-'i"eciprocating means-to thus reciprocate said head toward and away from said conveyor and further actuated by reciprocation of said spray head awayfrom said conveyorto interrupt operation of said spray head' reciproc ating means and to 'simultaneously initiate operation of said conveyoi movingmeans'for'thus carrying the next article on said'con'veyor to suchplace of praying.

7. In a spraying apparatus, the combination of a conveyoff'orcarrying a hollow article to be internally sprayed to a place of spraying, an electric motor connected to said conveyor for moving the same, a spray head at such place of spraying reciprocable toward and away from said conveyor and within such article, a reversible elec'tric motor connected to said head operable in opposite directions for reciprocating said head, and means controlling said motors comprising interconnected switches associated with said con- 7 veyor and said head operable to simultaneously interrupt operationof said first motor and initiate operation of said Second motor and simultaneously interrupt operation of said second 1 motor andinitiateoperation of said first motor,

and one of said switchesbeing operable to reverse said secondmotor prior to the interruption of the operation of said second motor and the initiation-of the operation of said first motor.

DONALD R. GOETCHIUS.

REFERENCES CITED The iollowingreferences are of record in the file of this patentt- UNITED STATES PATENTS "Number Name Date 228,773 Morahan June 15, 1880' 402,563 Colgate May 7, 1889 f 544,412 Magee Aug. 13, 1895 932,610 Hodgson Aug. 31, 1909 2,344,905 Short Mar. 21, 1944 2,383,023 Sykes et al Aug; 21, 1945 2,387,362 Stewart et al. Oct. 23, 1945 2,403,994 Paynter July 16, 1946 

